Applications invited for GSE Team to UK

For 2011-12, the Group Study Exchange team shall travel to United Kingdom in September 2011.  The last date for submitting the application is 18th June 2011 to Rotary Club of Chandigarh at Rotary House, 107A, Sector 18A, Chandigarh. 

Young Professionals working or residing in Chandigarh, (Rotarians and their blood relations are ineligible), can apply for this programme immediately before 18th June 2011.

Detailed criteria can be seen on Rotary International's website. (Click Here)

You can download the application form for GSE here

Rotary Cares!

On 13th April, a 10-year old Karan, son of a rickshawpuller Raj Kumar from Ambala Cantt was brought to the PGI, after he suddenly fell down while playing with his friends.  His legs could not bear his weight and he was unable to walk.  Carrying him in his arms, his father reached PGI paediatrics department where he was diagnosed with landry guillain barre syndrome (LGBS) - a nervous  disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system. Ascending paralysis, weakness beginning in the feet and hands and migrating towards the trunk, is the most typical symptom. It can cause life-threatening complications, particularly if the breathing muscles are affected or if there is dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. The disease is usually triggered by an acute infection.
There world was literally shattered as the doctors requested for special injections worth about Rs.60,000 to be injected to Karan to stop the spread of the disease. 
The housewife, Anu, who is a math tutor, and had brought the child from Ambala where Karan's mother worked as a maid, approached various sources, including our Club. While she herself shelled out Rs.30,000 immediately from her own savings to buy the first lot of injections, we sent out the appeal and within a few hours the remaining Rs.30,000 were arranged. 
Our special thanks to the Rotarians and others who responded immediately, especially  the Saboo family, Rtn AP Singh’s sister Supreet Dhiman and her Can and Will Foundation, Rtn. D.P. Singh, Rtn. D.V. Bhatia, Rtn. Lalita Jagmohan Singh, Rtn. Dr. Prashant Jain, and Rtn. C.J. Singh. 

Thanks to the prompt support by poor patient coordinator in PGI Dr. Anuradha Jatana for interacting with the doctors and the chemist M/s Kumar Brothers, Karan is now well on his way to recovery. He was relieved on 20^th May since the disease stopped spreading.  The boy would require physiotherapy to restore the working of his limbs.

Karan went back home smiling, and when what he wants to be, he shot back, “I want to be a doctor”. 

RCC in Sector 52

Further to the meeting President G.S. Lakhmna and I had yesterday with the Finance Secretary, Mr. Sanjay Kumar, IAS, who has allocated a cluster of 100 houses in Sector 52, at the transit camp set up for the slum dwellers, who have been moved there from various slums in the city, we along with Chairman RCC visited the colony in the morning as well as in the evening.

There are numerous issues that need to be tackled at the Administration level but at our Club level we have decided to set up another RCC there to engage the residents in their own upliftment.

We shall require everyone’s inputs and more importantly, active participation to make this project a success and make a difference in the lives of the people there. We are meeting again on Wednesday, 23rd December at 5pm in Sector 52 colony, and shall request as many Rotarians who can join in to see the state of affairs.

Some of the issues that we have identified include :

a. Assisting small children to get into government schools
b. Encouraging teenagers who are working to get into afternoon schools
c. Provide warm clothings and chappals/shoes for children
d. Micro loan for those who want to set up their own business
e. Adult education for women
f. Vocational training centre for the women
g. Additional vocational training at RVTC in embroidery, tailoring, beautician course, computer course
h. Medical health check up
i. Cleaning up the area and inculcating self-hygiene
j. General awareness about self-hygiene, immunization, etc.
k. Books and stationery for those children willing to learn

We shall appreciate everyone’s participation, and suggestions. Please get in touch with Rtn. Hasan Mejie.

A legend passes away

Our Club has become poorer today. One of the charter members of our Club and an affable father-figure, Past President Rtn. B.K. Mehan, passed away this morning.
We had breakfast together and later he enjoyed a cup of coffee sitting in the Sunday sun and went to bed thereafter when the attendant noticed that his head collapsed while in sleep. Arvind rushed him to the doctor, but unfortunately, he had already left for his Heavenly Abode.
We shall miss him. The Rotary world would miss him. He leaves behind the deep memories of his affection and friendship in everyone's heart. A great legacy of selfless service and contribution he made to the society through Rotary and Aurobindo Ashram. We feel poorer today in his absence. And we join the Mehan's family in their sorrow, and pray for peace of this noble departed soul.

50 Units of Blood donated

Our Club had organised a blood donation camp in association with the Darshan Darvesh Foundation of Kohli family at Hotel Aroma today, and was supported by the management and students of Allied Institute of Hotel Management and Culinary Arts, Panchkula.

Fifty units of blood were collected in which the students of the Institute, staff and family of Hotel Aroma, and Rotarians participated.

Mr. Ram Niwas, IAS, Home Secretary, UT was the chief guest who commended the Kohli family and the Rotarians for their continued commitment to the cause. “Do a good act and you will sleep well with happiness in your heart,” he said. He called upon the Rotarians to join with the Chandigarh Administration and tackling various challenges of literacy, poverty, malnourishment, health, sanitation, environment, etc.

Mr. Man Mohan Singh Kohli, proprietor of Hotel Aroma said that the camp is an annual feature which is held to pay our tributes to our elders especially our late parents Sardar Darshan Singh and mother Amrita Darshan, and deceased elders.

Mr. D.K. Bansal, MLA from Panchkula also presided over the camp, and many other dignitaries including former mayors Mrs. Harjinder Kaur, Mr. Pardip Chhabra, Mrs. Saroop Krishan and other functionaries of the Blood Bank Society, attended the camp.

The camp was managed by the team of doctors and staff from Rotary Blood Bank Society Resource Centre led by Dr R.S. Shah.

New Members Orientation

All members who have joined in the last two years are requested to join in for the New Members Orientation Workshop being hosted by our Club.
The workshop registration is Rs 500 only and is being held at Rotary House, top floor, on Sunday, 8th November.
Please do register immediately.
Please report by 9:30am. The session shall start at 10am and conclude at about 3pm.
CJ

Prospective Rotarians

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Bon Voyage on 11th January

This Sunday on 11th January, our Club - the home club of DGN Madhukar Malhotra - is hosting the Bon Voyage.  

As hosts, every Rotarian with spouses are requested to join in this special occasion at 11am at CGA Golf Range, to give a warm send off to our incoming district leader, DGE Chetan Aggarwal and his gracious wife Neelam, as they leave for International Assembly in USA the very next day. 

The Bon Voyage would be followed by lunch in the salubrious and hopefully, sunny Sunday afternoon. 

Look forward to having you all there!

Lakhmanas respond to keep little souls warm

When I visited Dhanas center recently with Rtn G.S.Lakhmna, 25 children were found to be from very weak economic backgrounds. With the onset of winter, we were requested by the teacher to help by providing some woollens to these kids.By then we had already distributed woollens to 60 kids in two other centers so Rtn Lakhmna volunteered and Ann Dolly Lakhmana was given the childrens' measurements - the good Samaritan that she is, she bought warm track-suits in a day which were distributed to the children at Dhanas today, the 18th December. 
God bless Lakhmnas!
Woollen caps will be given by us alongwith warm socks for the kids' parents. It will be a warm and joyous Christmas for these children this year!
All are welcome to this joint program of Rotary & Bharat Prakarsh Foundation(BPF). If you also want to help please call.These under-privileged kids need all the kindness of well-meaning people like you.

Rtn. Neena Singh

23rd July

Dr. R.C. Sobti, Vice Chancellor, Panjab University, Chandigarh, shall be the Guest Speaker at our Club meeting. He would be speaking on the Challenges and Changes in the Education System. Do join in with your family.

Next Meeting on 29th June

There was no meeting on Monday, the 25th June. The weekly meeting has been postponed to 29th June,which will be the valedictory function and awards to recognise the Rotarians in our Club,who contributed to "Lead the Way" under the leadership of Club President Rtn. Man Mohan Singh. The meeting shall be followed by fellowship.